Clothes Hanger Assembly

ABSTRACT

A clothes hanger assembly is described with a hook, a support bar perpendicularly attached to the hook, a support bar with a first side and a second side, each side oppositely projecting downwardly, such that the downward projection of the first side and the second side form an arc-like projection, such that the arc-like projection has a gradual point of curvature where the first side and second side meet, the arc-like projection further having a significant point of curvature such that the end points of the first side and second side continue to rotate approximately ninety degrees from where the first side and second side meet; and a support bar having a diameter from 0.5″ to 3.0″.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Design patent application 29/317,365by Richard Muller filed on Apr. 29, 2008 entitled “Tubular ClothesHanger”. This application also claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication 61/008,068 to Richard J. Muller filed on Dec. 17, 2007entitled “‘D’-shaped clothes hanger . . . ”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present inventive subject matter relates to a device for holdingclothing articles in general, and for clothes hangers in particular.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

It has long been recognized that clothes hangers are an extremely usefulapparatus to not only organize, but to properly display clothes. Thetypes of hangers that are recognized in the prior art are as varied asthe clothing that are place on them.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,347,346 to Frankel depicts a shirt shoulder shapingsystem for distributing the weight of a shirt over a greater area toshape the shoulders of a shirt.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,213,729 to Machlica describes a garment hanger have apolymetric frame.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,201,297 to Balziuk describes a clothes hanging systemwith an enlarged weight bearing segment.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,178,706 to Socha, et. al describes a heavy duty hangingsystem configured as a standard hanger.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,014 to Ali, et. al also depicts a heavy duty clotheshanging system with multiple arms.

Despite the depth of prior art directed at the design and implementationof clothes hangers, none of these designs alleviate the problem ofpreventing creases and dimples from forming on delicate fabrics and alsosupport heavy clothing. Certain types of clothing, such as heavy leatherjackets, require not only sufficient mechanical support, but also ahanger width to keep the shoulder area of the clothing from becomingdeformed.

SUMMARY

The various embodiments and domains described herein should not beconstrued as limitations in the potential application of the invention.Rather they are teachings for the purpose of illustrating theramifications and variations of possible embodiments of this invention.

The inventive subject matter describes a clothes hanger assembly havinga hook, a support bar perpendicularly attached to the hook, with thesupport bar further having a first side and a second side, the firstside and second side downwardly projecting, such that the downwardprojection of the first side and the second side form an arc-likeprojection, the arc-like projection having a gradual point of curvaturewhere the first side and second side meet, and the arc-like projectionfurther having a significant point of curvature such that the end pointsof the first side and second side have rotated approximately ninetydegrees from where the first side and second side meet; and the supportbar having a diameter from 0.5″ to 3.0″. The clothes hanger assemblyalso has a support bar width having a diameter from 0.75″ to 1.25″. Theclothes hanger assembly also has a support bar width with a diameterfrom 0.9″ to 1.1″. The clothes hanger assembly also has a support barwidth with a diameter from 1.5″ to 3.0″. The clothes hanger as in claim1 wherein the support bar is made from the materials that includealuminum, plastic, steel, and wood. The clothes hanger assembly also hasa support bar with a textured strip adhered to the upper part of thesupport bar. The clothes hanger assembly also has a strip that are madefrom materials such as felt, rubber, plastic, or a texture may beimpressed or embossed on the metal itself.

The inventive subject matter also describes a clothes hanger assemblythat has a hook, a support bar perpendicularly attached to the hook,with the support bar also having a first side and a second side, thefirst side and second side downwardly projecting, such that the downwardprojection of the first side and the second side form an arc-likeprojection, with the arc-like projection having a gradual point ofcurvature from where the first side and second side meet, the arc-likeprojection further having a significant point of curvature such that theend points of the first side and second side rotate approximately ninetydegrees from where the first side and second side meet, with the supportbar further comprising a support bar width with a diameter from 0.5″ to3.0″ and with a cross bar, the cross bar having a first end and a secondend, such that the first end and the second end attach to the end pointsof the first side and the second support bar. The clothes hangerassembly also having a support bar width with a diameter from 0.75″ to1.25″. The clothes hanger assembly also having a support bar width witha diameter from 0.9″ to 1.1″. The clothes hanger assembly also having asupport bar width with a diameter from 1.5″ to 3.0″. The clothes hangerassembly also having a cross bar with a interior cavity and voids, theinterior cavity being proximately dimensioned to receive materials, andthe voids located on the cross bar such that the voids allowcommunication between the interior cavity and the surface of the crossbar. The clothes hanger assembly also having the cross bar with atextured strip adhered to the upper part of the cross bar. The clotheshanger assembly also having a textured strip made from materialsselected from a group consisting of felt, rubber, plastic, or a texturemay be impressed or embossed on the metal itself.

The inventive subject matter also includes a method for making a clotheshanger assembly which includes selecting tubular support member with adiameter from 0.5 to 3.0″ in diameter, then bifurcating the selectedtubular member, then bending the tubular support member on each side ofthe bifurcation to impart a gradual curvature point, then furtherbending the tubular support member so that the tubular member hasrotated approximately ninety degrees. The assembly method also includesselecting the width of the tubular support member that have a diameterfrom 0.75″ to 1.25″. The assembly method further includes selecting asupport bar width with a diameter from 0.9″ to 1.1″. The assembly methodfurther includes the selection of a cross bar with a width of 0.5″ to3.0″ in diameter. The assembly method further includes the boring of acavity in the cross bar, the cavity being dimensioned to receive asubstance, and the cross bar further comprising the creation of voids,the voids further communicating with exterior of the cross bar.

These and other embodiments are described in more detail in thefollowing detailed descriptions and the figures.

The foregoing is not intended to be an exhaustive list of embodimentsand features of the present inventive subject matter. Persons skilled inthe art are capable of appreciating other embodiments and features fromthe following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the clothes hanger assembly.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the clothes hanger assembly.

FIG. 3 shows an edge-on view of the clothes hanger assembly.

FIG. 4 shows the clothes hanger assembly with an article of clothingmounted on the hanger.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the clothes hanger assembly with an articleof clothing mounted on the hanger.

FIG. 6 shows a front view of the clothes hanger with the alternateembodiment with a detachable cross bar.

FIG. 7 shows a front view of the clothes hanger with the detachablecross bar expanded away from the base.

FIGS. 8A and 8B shows an alternate embodiment of the hanger assemblywith the textured strip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While describing the invention and its embodiments various terms will beused for the sake of clarity. These terms are intended to not onlyinclude the recited embodiments, but also all equivalents that performsubstantially the same function in substantially the same manner toachieve the same result.

Now referring to FIG. 1 which depicts the front view of the clotheshanger assembly. The clothes hanger assembly 10 consists of a hook 20attached to a support bar 30 with an attachment device 25, which is anut and screw assembly. The support bar is configured in a “D”-likeconfiguration 40 with two sides, such that on either side the supportbar projects downward 50′, 50″ first in a gradual curvature mannerfollowed by significant curvature to where the tip of the support barhas rotated approximately 90 degrees. The point in the support bar wherea significant point of curvature 70′,70″ exists is defined by the tipaxis 80 relative to the bar axis 85. The point of curvature 70′,70″conforms to match the configuration of most clothing and/or garments.The length of each side of the support bar can range from 6″ to 18″,with optimal range being approximately 9.25″. For larger clothing, eachside of the support bar is roughly 11.0″ to 13.0″.

Now referring to FIG. 2 which is a top view of the clothes hangerassembly 10. The top view shows the hook 20 attached to the support bar30. The clothes hanger assembly 10 shows that the support bar width 110is significantly wider than the prior art hangers which are fabricatedfrom wire, wood, or plastic. The support bar width 110 of the supportbar 30 has a diameter ranging in dimensions from 0.5″ to 4.0″, withpreferred ranges of 0.75″ to 1.25″, and with optimal ranges from 0.9″ to1.1″. For certain types of clothing, such as for jackets, the diameterranges in dimensions from 0.5″ to 3.0″. The support bar 30 can betubular or generally tubular in a configuration to achieve the supportbar width 110. The support bar 30 can be either solid or hollow.

Now referring to FIG. 3 which is an edge view of the clothes hangerassembly 10. The edge view shows the hook 20 attached to the support bar30. The support bar width 110 is also shown from the edge view.

Now referring to FIG. 4 which is a front view of the clothes hangerassembly 10 with the clothing 210 set on the support bar 30. As shown inFIG. 5 one part of the clothing 210 is the shoulder 220 which is keptfrom being deformed by the shoulder bar width 110.

Now referring to FIG. 5 which is a top view of the clothes hangerassembly 10 showing the hook 20, the support bar 30, the support barwidth 110, the clothing 210 and the shoulder 220 of the clothing 210resting in the support bar 30. The shoulder 220 of the clothing 210 isprevented from being deformed from the width and curvature of the hangerand hanger body.

Now referring to FIG. 6 which is a front view of an alternate embodimentof the clothes hanger assembly with the cross bar attachment. The crossbar 310 is dimensioned to be the width of the bar 320. The cross bar 310is connected to ends 330′, 330″ of the support bar 30 using inserts340′, 340″. These inserts 340′, 340″ are mechanically connected to thesupport bar 30 such that if other clothing articles are hung directly onthe cross bar 310, the cross bar 310 will not become detached. Theweight of the other clothing articles will typically range from 0.1 to 1lbs, 1 to 2 lbs, 2 to 5 lbs, 5 to 10 lbs, and 10-20 lbs. The diameter ofthe cross bar can range from 0.5″ to 4.0″, with optimal ranges from 0.9″to 1.1″.

Now referring to FIG. 7 which depicts the cross bar 310 being inserted350 and detached 360 from the base of the clothes hanger assembly. Thisinsertion 350 and detachment 360 is accomplished by the inserts 340′,340″ configured in away to allow removing the connectors 370′, 370″.

The cross bar 310 may also be perforated to allow for the insertion ofsubstances to either prevent the infestation of insects or to permeatethe clothing with a scent. Such substances are, for example, cedar woodmaterials to prevent moths, naphthalene, or perfumes. The substances maybe inserted using a slot located on the bar or by inserting in the tubeat the end of the bar.

Now referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B which shows an alternate embodimentwith a texture strip positioned to interface between the clothing placedon the support bar 30 or the cross bar 310. The texture strip increasesthe friction between the clothing and the hanger to prevent the clothingfrom slipping off the hanger. A material type used for the texturedstrip is typically felt or a similar cloth type material, but thematerial type may also be rubber, textured plastic, or other compositematerials. Mechanical variants may be included in the textured strip,including but not limited to, grooves or bumps. The texture strips areadhered to the support bar using glues. FIG. 8A shows the texture stripsas implemented as support bar strips 410 410″. FIG. 8B shows the texturestrips as implemented as a cross bar strip 420.

Persons skilled in the art will recognize that the cross bar may beutilized to support many different types of clothing, including but notlimited to, pants, folded shirts, socks, ties, and other clothing thatcan be draped over the cross bar. Persons skilled in the art willunderstand that the term “cross bar” is synonymous with the term “pantbar”.

Persons skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications andvariations are possible in the details, materials, and arrangements ofthe parts and actions which have been described and illustrated in orderto explain the nature of this inventive concept and that suchmodifications and variations do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe teachings and claims contained therein.

All patent and non-patent literature cited herein is hereby incorporatedby references in its entirety for all purposes.

1. A clothes hanger assembly comprising: a hook, a support barperpendicularly attached to the hook, the support bar further comprisinga first side and a second side, the first side and second sidedownwardly projecting, such that the downward projection of the firstside and the second side form an arc-like projection, the arc-likeprojection having a gradual point of curvature where the first side andsecond side meet, the arc-like projection further having a significantpoint of curvature such that the end points of the first side and secondside have rotated approximately ninety degrees from where the first sideand second side meet; and the support bar having a diameter from 0.5″ to3.0″.
 2. The clothes hanger assembly as in claim 1 further comprises asupport bar width having a diameter from 0.75″ to 1.25″.
 3. The clotheshanger assembly as in claim 1 further comprising a support bar widthwith a diameter from 0.9″ to 1.1%.
 4. The clothes hanger assembly as inclaim 1 further comprising a support bar width with a diameter from 1.5″to 3.0″.
 5. The clothes hanger as in claim 1 wherein the support bar inmade from the materials selected from a group comprising aluminum,steel, plastic, and wood.
 6. The clothes hanger assembly as in claim 1wherein the support bar further comprises a textured strip adhere to theupper part of the support bar.
 7. The clothes hanger assembly as inclaim 6 wherein the textured strip is made from materials selected froma group consisting of felt, rubber, plastic, impressed metal, embossedmetal, or composite materials.
 8. A clothes hanger assembly comprising:a hook, a support bar perpendicularly attached to the hook, the supportbar further comprising a first side and a second side, the first sideand second side downwardly projecting, such that the downward projectionof the first side and the second side form an arc-like projection, thearc-like projection having a gradual point of curvature from where thefirst side and second side meet, the arc-like projection further havinga significant point of curvature such that the end points of the firstside and second side have rotated approximately ninety degrees fromwhere the first side and second side meet; the support bar furthercomprising a support bar width with a diameter from 0.5″ to 3.0″; and across bar, the cross bar having a first end and a second end, such thatthe first end and the second end attach to the end points of the firstside and the second support bar, and
 9. The clothes hanger assembly asin claim 8 further comprising a support bar width with a diameter from0.75″ to 1.25″.
 10. The clothes hanger assembly as in claim 8 furthercomprising a support bar width with a diameter from 0.9″ to 1.1″. 11.The clothes hanger assembly as in claim 8 further comprising a supportbar width with a diameter from 1.5″ to 3.0″.
 12. The clothes hangerassembly as in claim 8 wherein the cross bar further comprises aninterior cavity and voids, the interior cavity being proximatelydimensioned to receive materials, and the voids located on the cross barsuch that the voids allow communication between the interior cavity andthe surface of the cross bar.
 13. The clothes hanger assembly as inclaim 8 wherein the cross bar further comprises a textured strip adhereto the upper part of the cross bar.
 14. The clothes hanger assembly asin claim 13 wherein the textured strip is made from materials selectedfrom a group consisting of felt, rubber, plastic, impressed metal,embossed metal, or composite materials.
 15. A method making a clotheshanger assembly comprising: selecting tubular support member with adiameter from 0.5 to 3.0″ in diameter; bifurcating the selected tubularmember bending the tubular support member on each side of thebifurcation to impart a gradual curvature point, further bending thetubular support member so that the tubular member has rotatedapproximately ninety degrees.
 16. The clothes hanger assembly as inclaim 15 wherein the width of the tubular support member with a diameterfrom 0.75″ to 1.25″.
 17. The clothes hanger assembly as in claim 15further comprising a support bar width with a diameter from 0.9″ to1.1″.
 18. The clothes hanger assembly as in claim 15 further comprisingthe selection of a cross bar, said cross bar being 0.5″ to 3.0″ indiameter.
 19. The clothes hanger assembly as in claim 18 furthercomprising the boring of a cavity in the cross bar, the cavity beingdimensioned to receive a substance, the cross bar further comprising thecreation of voids, the voids further communicating with exterior of thecross bar.